Google is said to be working on a new cross-platform messaging app to unify its many messaging platforms into one brand. Originally it was reported that this effort was called “Babble” but now it has been corrected to “Babel” (According to the Biblical story of Babel, it seems “Babel” would describe Google’s current disconnected bunch of messaging apps better than one that is united. Perhaps the code-name really should be “reverse-Babel”?)

In 2011 I wrote a report about Microsoft UC based on statistics derived from publicly available DNS records. This year we will be able to compare the same domains and what has changed in the Microsoft UC/Lync. We will also add to our report data about XMPP servers. While there are some challenges with using DNS records that I will outline below, I think the data demonstrates what is happening, at least in a general way, in the real world.

Definition of Terms

To avoid using the generic “Microsoft UC” we will use Lync to refer to any Microsoft UC products. This could be LCS, OCS, Lync or Lync Online/Office 365.

We understand the UC federation can mean different things to different people and vendors, but for the purposes of this report we are using the definition as outlined in this article “What Is UC Federation?”

Notes About DNS Based Data and Our Domain List

This report is not perfect and we want to clearly indicate what we see as weaknesses that one should be aware of when considering this report.

This report is based on querying DNS SRV records

Having the noted DNS record does not guarantee that an organization has fully implemented the indicated UC as the organization could be merely testing or piloting

Somewhat in the same vein of thought but having the DNS records reveals nothing about how many users are using the indicated UC solution

But I started to wonder: How many XMPP servers are out there? Why not search for XMPP servers facing the web in the same way we search for Lync servers, by looking for the presence of an XMPP SRV record? (_xmpp-server._tcp.) I have a bulk DNS query tool that I developed to mass test a list of domains for presence of records. I have this tool chugging through the domains that currently are know to have Lync federation…

XMPP Server Initial Findings

Of the 15,255 known Lync federation enabled domains, only 1,201 or 8% are also XMPP federation4 enabled. This would indicate that the vast majority of Microsoft Lync implementations could benefit by implementing Lync Server 2013 XMPP built-in functionality.

Of Fortune 500 companies, 70 or 14% appear to have a public facing XMPP federation4.

XMPP Federation in Fortune 1000 companies2, 108 or 11% appear to have a public facing XMPP federation4.

Ads show up in Google searches. Ads show up in YouTube videos. Ads show up in Gmail.

But what about WebRTC? Could calls originating from Chrome have ads inserted? Could ads eventually play before you video call can commence? Or could there be transparent ads (much like Google+ water mark below?) at the bottom of a video calls? Or perhaps even more innovative: real-time transcription could suggest great solutions to problems being discussed in your video call or conference?

Just out of curiosity I’m wondering if this has been guaranteed against? Or is this just crazy and technically impossible? Would like your input. For some reason my “googling” seems to return nothing on this…

I find myself in discussions that come down to what are we talking about when we refer to “UC Federation” is so I thought I would write down my definition so I can refer others to see how I define it. (and how I came to the definition)

“Communication and trust between different organizations and UC platforms as if you were on the same platform while each organization maintains control of internal affairs. Instant Message and presence modes of communication presumed with additional modes a possibility.

Some of My Rationale

Since in “UC federation” we are using the word “federation” I references the Oxford and Random House:

“a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs –Oxford

“the formation of a political unity, with a central government, by a number of separate states, each of which retains control of its own internal affairs –Random House

I have burrowed from the the Oxford Dictionary in the area of “maintaining internal control” which I think is very core to UC federation. But using “Federation” could be problematic because of the aspect of “centralized control”. It is not defined this strong in all dictionaries and UC Vendors often talk about UC Federation in the absence of “centralized control”. But I would like your input:

We have known for some time that Microsoft is doing work around webRTC (or a standard like it CU-RTC-WEB). Yesterday in a Q&A after his keynote at Enterprise Connect 2013 Derek Burney, Corporate VP Microsoft Lync and Microsoft Office Data, noted that Microsoft is excited about the prospects plugin-less media coming to Microsoft Lync. His comment:

“…the Microsoft Lync Web App uses a plugin today. Microsoft will support webRTC as soon as the standard is ratified. This is a super exciting initiative.”

Observers have noted that webRTC is not likely to show up on all browsers for some time. But panelists at Enterprise Connect 2013 have noted that the benefits of webRTC could be realized sooner via webRTC plug-ins for browsers that do not initially support webRTC natively. This intermediate step could provide the benefit of replacing many plugins for one plugin until the browsers support it natively.

* will soon be rolled into Skype** Audio coming in 2013*** Using AOL PIC; Okay, I know we’re stretching, but there IS connectivity!4) IBM SameTime requires gateway from IBM to connect to other solutions: Click Here

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About Me

Matthew M. Landis has various industry certifications: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Database Administrator, Microsoft Office Certified Expert, Microsoft Certified Dynamics, Network+ and A+.
In 1995 Matt started Landis Computer which has been providing IT services to small businesses for 14 years and is now a 11 person Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. Matt has over 14 years of field experience implementing Windows Server, Microsoft & Dynamics ERP solutions in small business environments.
Matt is very active in the Windows based IP PBX community: He was a 3CX Valued Professional from 2008-2010 and has co-authored a book on Windows communication software "3CX IP PBX Tutorial". He is pbxnsip Certified, he has contributed thousands of posts to the 3CX community forum and he writes the monthly Windows PBX Report e-newsletter for VARS and administrators. His company, Landis Computer, was the first company in the USA to be designated a 3CX Premium Partner.
When not working and when a chance affords Matt likes to travel internationally with his wife Rosalyn and is very involved in his church.